Catamenial device

ABSTRACT

An improvement in a tampon for absorbing menstrual fluids in which a capillary wick of non-absorbing material extends into the interior body of the tampon. The wick acts as a capillary transport to carry fluids to the core of the tampon body, thus using the absorptive capacity of the unexposed cotton.

United States Patent [1 1 Accavallo 1 May 15, 1973 CATAMENIAL DEVICE[76] Inventor: Linda L. Accavallo, 40 Woodstock Avenue, Rutland, Vt.

22 Filed: Feb. 18, 1971 21. Appl.No.: 116,531

[52] US. Cl "128/285 [51] Int. Cl. ..A6lf 13/20 [58] Field of Search..128/270, 285, 296

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,401,358 12/1921 Peterkin..128/285 1,222,825 4/1917 Walter ..l28/285 1,887,526 11/1932 Spielberget a1 ..128/285 3,085,574 4/1963 Penksa ..128/285 X FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 1,007,643 5/1952 France ..128/285 Primary Examiner-CharlesF. Rosenbaum Attorney-Wm. O. Moeser, Esq.

[57] ABSTRACT An improvement in a tampon for absorbing menstrual fluidsin which a capillary wick of non-absorbing material extends into theinterior body of the tampon. The wick acts as a capillary transport tocarry fluids to the core of the tampon body, thus using the absorptivecapacity of the unexposed cotton.

1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTED HAY 1 51975 [01 04 Z. AfCA wuwINVENTOR.

1 CATAMENIAL DEVICE My invention relates to intravaginal catamenialdevices and relates more particularly to an improvement in such deviceswhereby they are made much more effective as absorbing mediums formenstrual fluids.

Devices in common use today come in a number of variants. However, theyall essentially comprise a compressed cylinder of cotton. The cotton ispreferably highly absorbent, but must be densely packed for efficientuse. The cotton cylinder is usually contained in a rigid plasticapplicator tube, although the structural integrity of the cylindricalshape is dependent on the compressing process, and not upon said tube.

When inserted in the vaginal cavity, a cord (stitched to the cotton)extends therefrom, and provides the means for removal after use.Appearance of menstrual blood on the cord is an indication to the userthat no further effective absorption can be expected from the device.The need for its removal and replacement is thus indicated.

I have found that a significant portion of the absorptive capacity ofthe cotton is never used. After the top end of the dense cotton cylinderhas been wetted, the fluids run down along the outside surface of thecylinder. The cotton, of course, absorbs the fluids, but it is only thesurface cotton (and then only to a limited depth) that is actuallyeffective. A significant portion of the cotton at the core of thecylinder (as much as 40 percent to 60 percent) remains dry. This is fortwo basic reasons: the cotton is densely packed; also once the surfaceis wet, the cotton is a poor conducting medium for any further transferof fluid to the center. At this point, the indication for removalappears and the device, only partially used, must be discarded.

I solve this problem by adding a transporting element to carry menstrualfluids to the interior of the cotton cylinder whereby 90 percent or moreof the cotton is effectively used, thus significantly extending the lifeof each replacement.

For a complete understanding of my invention, refer to the accompanyingdrawing in which FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the tampon as it appearsbefore compression, with the element of the invention added; and

FIG. 2 is the tampon after compression and ready for use.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, a block of cotton isprovided in accordance with present practice. A removal cord 6 isstitched to the cotton mass on the back side (as shown). The front sidemay be called the thread side. The thread side is the surface whichbecomes the interior portion of the cylinder of FIG. 2.

To the thread side of the cotton I affix by stitching a capillary wick7. It will be appreciated that this device is mass produced; the threadstitching, the cord 6 and the wick 7 are all affixed to the cotton massby suitable machinery in one pass. The wick 7 is preferably made of anon-absorbing synthetic material which is porous; the interstices formcapillary avenues through which fluids are transported. The wick 7 isflexible (as a fabric) and I have found a wide variety of substances inthe nylon or rayon class to be effective. Certain fiber glass wovenmaterials may also be used. The important point is that the wick itselfdoes not become saturated by absorption, but continues to act as acapillary transport delivering fluid to the interior cotton, where it isabsorbed and retained.

The wick 7 is positioned to extend beyond what will be the top end ofthe tampon, while the bottom end stops before the lower edge of thecotton block as shown.

When compressed, the completed tampon 8 is shown in FIG. 2. The wick 7extends in the order of one-fourth of an inch or so from the top end ofthe tampon 8 and leads into the interior of the cotton cylinder.

In use, the menstrual fluids are not only absorbed by the surface cottonas is now the case, but they migrate from the top by capillary actionthrough the wick 7 into those interior portions of the cotton thatheretofore have remained dry. Thus the effective capacity of the tamponsnow in general use is greatly increased.

While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention for purposesof illustration, it will be appreciated that the inventive concept caneasily be applied to any of a variety of tampons now on the market. Forexample, the cotton block 5 may be in a wide range of dimensions. Insome cases the mass is rolled to form the final cylindrical shape, inwhich case alternate layers of wick and cotton are formed along a radialline of the cylinder. I have shown a method of construction easilyadapted to present production techniques. However, the wick materialcould be introduced between two layers of cotton, to make a sandwichwhich could then be either rolled or crushed into final form. Theparticular method of assembly may be chosen to suit the machinery whichit is desired to use. I therefore include all variations as will occurto persons skilled in the art which are within the spirit and scope ofthe following claims:

I claim:

1. A rolled cylindrical tampon comprising a first sheet of absorbentmaterial, a second sheet of nonabsorbtive synthetic woven materialsuperimposed on one face of said first sheet and extending beyond atleast one edge of said first sheet whereby upon rolling said sheet intoa cylinder said second sheet will act as a spiral wick to the interiorof said cylinder.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CGRRECTION Patent No. 3 I 865Dated View 15, 1973 lnventofls) LINDA s. GTIYFTTE It is certified thaterror appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the cover sheet and. on the sheet containing the drawings, "Linda L.Accavallo" should. read Linda. S.

Guyette Signed and sealed this 20th day of'November 1973,

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ENEDI TEGTMEYER Attesting Officer ActingCommissioner 0F a'tents' FORM PO-105O (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-P59 U.S4GOVERNMENT PRINTING O FFICE 1959 0-366-334;

1. A rolled cylindrical tampon comprising a first sheet of absorbentmaterial, a second sheet of non-absorbtive synthetic woven materialsuperimposed on one face of said first sheet and extending beyond atleast one edge of said first sheet whereby upon rolling said sheet intoa cylinder said second sheet will act as a spiral wick to the interiorof said cylinder.